Immigrants driver's license bills advance

LANSING -- With businesses and universities urging quick action, a state Senate committee on Thursday took a step toward ending a policy that has at least temporarily banned legal immigrants from getting driver's licenses in Michigan.

The Senate Transportation Committee approved bills that would let legal immigrants who aren't permanent residents get behind the wheel, sending the legislation to the full Senate. It was not immediately clear when the Senate might vote on the bills, but action could come as early as next week.

Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land stopped giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants last week, responding to an opinion from Attorney General Mike Cox. Land interpreted the same opinion to mean those who are legally in the state but not permanent residents shouldn't get licenses, either.

People can continue to drive in Michigan as long as the driver's licenses from their home nations are valid, but once those expire, they would need a state-issued license. The policy applies only to first-time applicants for a Michigan license.

Land wants immigrants who are legally in the state to be able to get licenses, but said it will take a change in state law to allow it.

"We need to pass these bills soon," Land told lawmakers Thursday.

The legislation passed Thursday by the Senate committee deals broadly with stricter identification procedures aimed at complying with measures such as the federal Real ID Act. Many of those at the hearing, including some Democrats, want to separate the immediate issue of restoring driver's license rights to legal immigrants from the broader Real ID package.

Sen. John Gleason, a Democrat from Flushing, said after the committee hearing that Land overreached with her decision to deny licenses to legal immigrants. The result, he said, is unnecessary stress and confusion for legal immigrants living in the state and damage to Michigan's reputation.

Businesses and universities say some of their employees and students already are getting turned down when applying for Michigan driver's licenses.

Dennis Archer, former Detroit mayor and former chairman of the Detroit Regional Chamber, told lawmakers the current driver's license policy threatens relationships with Japanese companies and is worrying a company from India that is considering locating in Michigan.
"We need to fix this problem immediately," Archer said. "Every day that this is out there ... we lose opportunities for jobs."

Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Thursday there are nearly 400,000 foreign businesspeople, students and their families in Michigan on visas. Many of them are employed in the automotive industry. Doctors, researchers and several other types of workers are affected. So are universities trying to recruit international faculty and students.

Granholm is among those saying she agrees with provisions that deny illegal immigrants licenses. But she feels those here legally should be able to get a state-issued license.

"We will unite in making sure we send the right message, that we want to invite the world here and not close the world off," Granholm told a group of Detroit business leaders Thursday.